I think this forum will help! Adult not loving this!

[jessieg]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I feel like I count down the WEEKS right now. I'm like, 5 down, 67 to go. Good grief. I have heard it goes fast, but I feel like I've had them on forever already. I also think of it this way. I have a friend who just went through a battle with breast cancer at 37. If she can get through that, I can get through 18 months of awkwardness for an amazing result. I guess I thought my teeth weren't really bad anyway, I thought it would be less time. I will keep checking in though, I like to read everyone else's thoughts along the way in their process. 3 weeks till my first wire change, I hope the pain stops before then so maybe I can get in a week of eating normal before I go....and then start again!

[overbite23]

I turned 24 yesterday and although I am several years younger than many of you here I can relate to your points. I had to do an orientation for 3 new hires on the same day that I got braced and it was pretty horrible. My lips started to feel raw and talking was a struggle but everyone was pretty understanding and they all keep tabs on me and ask me how im doing with them which is pretty nice. One of my new hires actually explained to me just last week that she knows she needs braces as well but is to embarassed to get them. I just think of the end result, Im due to take them off in 1.5 yrs (17 more months to go!) which isnt so bad.

[bnelson52]

I turned 24 yesterday and although I am several years younger than many of you here I can relate to your points. I had to do an orientation for 3 new hires on the same day that I got braced and it was pretty horrible. My lips started to feel raw and talking was a struggle but everyone was pretty understanding and they all keep tabs on me and ask me how im doing with them which is pretty nice. One of my new hires actually explained to me just last week that she knows she needs braces as well but is to embarassed to get them. I just think of the end result, Im due to take them off in 1.5 yrs (17 more months to go!) which isnt so bad.

Funny - I am in HR and had to do orientation 2 days after I got mine on.....and it was with a guy, so that made it even more awkward. Argh, I'm glad that's over!

[Jerseygirl]

I'm 36 too, being braced on Wednesday. It's vanity that gets to me. I was so against it at first, I wanted veneers...even though they won't improve my bite. I'm getting over it, I'm trying to stay focused on the end result.

Totally with you on the vanity thing. LOL. I'm 46 so 10 years older than you. I'm super particular about my appeareance so yes, braces are a big deal. They do impact your appearance - and make you look different. BUT it is temporary and the end result will be so worth it - that is what we all keep in mind and as you mention, stay focused with. But it's nice to keep encouraging one another and being understanding - because many of us feel the same!

I also have issues eating in general - can't close my mouth and food gets caught everywhere, and I eat at my desk at work with people walking by all the time. Inevitably someone stops by when I am eating and I've got lettuce hanging off a bracket. LOL. It's not the end of the world of course - just a minor inconvenience.

I also notice that as my teeth are moving I am having a harder time saying certain words and sounds. But just like everything else - others really don't notice. We are our own worst critics for sure.

[Jerseygirl]

And I promise, these braces don't look nearly as bad to other people as we think they do.

SO very true!

[Ellebraced]

Awwww Hang in there. I know how you feel, I had the ODGWHID feeling (OH dear God what have I done) I felt awkward , I still sometimes feel awkward in a new crowd. I have had my braces 18 months tomorrow and all the awkwardness has been worth it. My original estimate was 28 months and I will be done in a 8 weeks at the most.....I hope. I go for one of my final appointments today.

Honestly If I had just accepted my braces it would have been easier but my braces seem really noticeable and I had a few family members laugh about how my lip sticks out funny with them and they probably didn't realize they hurt my feelings but I want people to lie to me until I get these things off and then tell me how stupid I looked. I do think my braces have made me a little depressed, I just don't feel myself. I have not enjoyed food at all, especially going out to eat, though I can eat almost everything and a lot of time nothing gets stuck in my front teeth, I just don't enjoy it. But still it has been worth it, I was not happy with my teeth before and know this was the only way to fix them properly.

Find the humor in the process it helps. It took me about 5 months to really accept the braces thing, not that I didn't hate them but I made peace with it and the amazing fast results really helped. This website is the best, you will find lots of support on here and the time really does fly by.

Good luck, starting the journey is the hardest part and you have got that done.

You can check out my crazy blog by following the link below

Elle

[Angel269]

I'm worried as soon as I get mine on I will feel like the ODGWHID thing going on! I get mine next Friday, fortunately they are ceramic and will only be on the top but still doesn't shake off the feeling of feeling very self conscious about it.

I'm 24 and don't know of anyone else around me with them. I also have a 11 month old son and feel that it will make me even more self conscious and shy at the baby groups. I am hoping that I may feel less conscious once they are on despite the fact I have them because then people will realise that I am actually doing something about my ugly teeth.

[Dee17]

I'm getting my braces on at the end of October and am having tremendous anxiety about the whole process. This is mostly because of my age. I'm 54. I don't know one other adult who wears braces. Believe me, I would not be doing this except that I have developed a very large space between my two front teeth (which looks horrible -- I hate it. My dentist and two orthodontists I saw for consultations told me that the only way I could have it closed was to get braces. So, I am getting them put on on October 25th. I am dreading the whole thing so much. Not just the pain I am anticipating I will have but the way they are going t change my appearance. I never used to think of myself as a vain person but getting ready to embark on this new journey has definitely taught me differently. I hope that I will be able to adjust to them quickly so that I won't feel too embarrassed.
I think that I'm especially worried about things like problems with my speech and how comfortable I am going to feel eating in restaurants (which I really enjoy now) and how comfortable I will be smiling at other people. Smiling is such a natural impulse. Mind you, I don't smile very much (with my mouth open) right now because of the space between my teeth. I just keep telling myself that once my smile has been restored to its original beautiful condition that the whole process will have been worth it.

[AdultGettingBraces]

I just had my first appointment at 26. It was a bit strange being in the waiting room with a heap of high school kids in uniform haha and it was worse when they called me and one of them into the orthodontists room at the same time because I guess he treats one while the other person is being prepped. Asking if I had someone there with me (a parent I assume) was a bit embarrassing to but I just laughed at it with my friends later.

[Angel269]

As you can see I recently posted on here. I'm now 4 months down the line.

No one has ever noticed/commented on my upper ceramics (Inc coated archwire) thankfully-I think people may just about notice them but say nothing.

Just feel uncomfortable after I've eaten knowing there is probably stuck food.

This process has allowed me to develop my confidence about sitting in the dentists chair too! I had an extreme phobia which I got over about 3 years ago.

[blissmom]

I'm 35 and just got braced last week. I will never regret it.
Do I wish I could eat things normally? Yes
Do I wish people could just ignore them sometimes? Yes
But I am doing this for ME. I wanted this for 20 years. I have found a way to afford it. I am worth it.
and to heck with what anyone says or thinks.
That's also why I won't complain (too much) about the pain.
I chose to do this. and I am proud of my crooked braced up smile :)

[juicyjuicy]

Hey guys,

I'm 20 and I felt like it was the end of the world even for me, but I really believe that the end result is going to be amazing.

Also the journey and the climb is just as valuable - you learn so much about how to take better care of yourself, how important those closest to you are, and that people aren't going to start treating you a certain way just because you have braces on.

We can do this!

[Xenbuf]

I am 36 and i got braces 11 days ago. I literally felt like you did the first two days I had them. I wanted them off so bad and didn't care about losing the money. I couldn't stop crying. Then, after a long weekend, I had to go back to work. I am a teacher! I walked into school, saw my best friend and burst no tears again. She had to stop me from walking out!

However, things have gotten better. Finding this board has helped and I am getting used to the braces (and this stupid molar buildup) a lot faster than i would have thought. I have had whole conversations at work with people who haven't even noticed them on my teeth. That surprises me because I feel they are so obvious.

I am the only adult I know with braces and it isn't perfect right now. Eating is still kind of awkward and brushing my teeth takes forever. However, it keeps getting better a little everyday which gives me hope for making it through this long journey.

[Dee17]

Hey, I hear you. I'm 54 years old and I'm getting my braces (metal upper and lower) tomorrow. Like you, I know absolutely NO ONE my age who wears braces. I decided to opt for the metal ones because I have read that the ceramic braces feel quite bulky in the mouth and I really didn't think I'd be able to handle that. Now, I'm starting to wonder if I made the wrong decision. But, there's really no turning back now. It's onward and upward. I wish you all the best on your journey! Keep us posted on how you are doing. This forum has been an invaluable support to me. There are only people who are all in the same boat as us and everyone here is terrifically supportive and encouraging.